Ive posted before and I was doing great with 4 months of smoke free. Tonight a bad episode of shortness of breath. How much longer til its gone? Doctors said no copd and no asthma but this is driving me nuts. Ekg and blood work and xrays and ct scans all normal. Is this even worth it? Is it just from anxiety as since ive quit I take a low dose from time to time. The annoying part I even get short of breath sometimes just from talking for a period of time and have dizzy spells. Im a fit person but haven't exercised since I quit. Smoked ten years a pack a day started at 26. They say this isn't long and I should be ok from the smoking but man why the SOB like someone stepping on my chest and just from talking I have to catch up. Some words of encouragement as im losing my mind here and tired of feeling like shit.
4 months clean of smoking and this shortness ... - Quit Support
4 months clean of smoking and this shortness of breath killing me how much longer? Is this even from healing?
Hey Jarhead, glad you came on here and didn't succumb to the fags. Any chance of you starting to exercise again gently then? Even just brisk walking to start with. I've just had a couple of months off exercise and started back this week. What has really surprised me is how short of breath I get - where did that come from? 
You're lucky that you've had all the tests, great that they were all clear so now, onwards and upwards. Everbody's different and it WILL get better. I think it must be anxiety - why not come and join in the Daily Chat and moan on there and have a laugh as well. It really is a good distraction. You're in it for the long haul and we all expect to see you on here later. Andi 
Thanks everyone and yes this all sucks. I always notice the shortness of breath when im just sitting down doing nothing or talking. If im busy working on something it never comes as my mind is elsewhere. Its driving me nuts as it seems when its time to relax I cant cause then the breathing problems. Not sure if I should go to a pulmonologist since every other doctor has tested me including the allergist who said no copd or no asthma. wondering if it would be a waste of my time. I just want to know this is all worth it and at some point itll go away. Always in the back of my mind I was a Marine in the Iraq war and worry that maybe there was some exposure to something which is causing it. Its always in the back of my mind as ive heard stories of weird lung diseases among other things. Anyways keep in touch and good luck to you all and ill try to join the chats if I can figure out how. Although it seems like a lot of people in here are from the UK so might be hard to talk since in different time zones as im in central US. Good luck keep in touch
I stoped smoking a month ago and started feel exactly as you described it a week ago, doctors say I’m perfectly fine. Im extremely scared out of my mind doctors treat me as I’m crazy. Im sorry you also feel this way .
As you can see its been a few years and life has gotten better. Some of my shortness of breath came from anxiety which I basically was treating with smoking. So it'll get better with time and find an outlet for the anxiety or meds if necessary. Good luck
Hey bud I'm having the same thing. I stopped because I started getting shortness of breath and I been 5 days and I get winded sitting down or just even bending over. When I'm at work I don't think about it. I even went walking and jogging for a couple miles and even for the runners high. It only hits when I'm sitting down or laying down to go to sleep. I think it is the nerves and it dosent make it better when u think there is something wrong when all in all your getting much more oxygen to your body than you use to and your body isn't sure how to except it. That's a positive thought. But stay strong I'm just trying to figure out what to do on my breaks or the time when I'm at home and have a chill time.. Other than that 5 days and don't think about smoking anymore started at age 13 now I'm 27. I refuse to,the early and my wife date another,man or a man help raise my kids.... Keep trucking buddy u can do it!
Hi Jarhead. I'm only 6 weeks smoke free but, like you, I am freaked out by how crap I feel. I had my bloods and ECG done, and they are all clear. Got more tests next week. When I ask my doctor if how I am feeling is directly related to stopping smoking, he looks at me a bit bemused (which is worrying). The medical world has invested a lot in finding out the effects of smoking, and encouraging us to give up. I think they need to invest a bit in finding out the full effects of giving up and help us out a bit or at least reassure us that feeling crap is normal. If it wasn't for communities like this one we would really be going out of our minds.
Hi Jarhead, Sounds a bit like anxiety to me, Andi is right try to exercise a bit more. When your talking remember to slow down and take deep breaths. I too have sob and its mainly due to anxiety but slowing down and exercise does help.
Thanks everyone and yes this all sucks. I always notice the shortness of breath when im just sitting down doing nothing or talking. If im busy working on something it never comes as my mind is elsewhere. Its driving me nuts as it seems when its time to relax I cant cause then the breathing problems. Not sure if I should go to a pulmonologist since every other doctor has tested me including the allergist who said no copd or no asthma. wondering if it would be a waste of my time. I just want to know this is all worth it and at some point itll go away. Always in the back of my mind I was a Marine in the Iraq war and worry that maybe there was some exposure to something which is causing it. Its always in the back of my mind as ive heard stories of weird lung diseases among other things. Anyways keep in touch and good luck to you all and ill try to join the chats if I can figure out how. Although it seems like a lot of people in here are from the UK so might be hard to talk since in different time zones as im in central US. Good luck keep in touch
Hi jarhead, I am with you will be 4 months smoke free on Monday and I too have SOB. I am exercising regularly now and Doctor similarly says chest clear etc, I do get out of breath when talking and think maybe jillygirl is right and this is anxiety, back at Doctors next week to try and find out, it's driving me nuts too all the best x
Thanks everyone and yes this all sucks. I always notice the shortness of breath when im just sitting down doing nothing or talking. If im busy working on something it never comes as my mind is elsewhere. Its driving me nuts as it seems when its time to relax I cant cause then the breathing problems. Not sure if I should go to a pulmonologist since every other doctor has tested me including the allergist who said no copd or no asthma. wondering if it would be a waste of my time. I just want to know this is all worth it and at some point itll go away. Always in the back of my mind I was a Marine in the Iraq war and worry that maybe there was some exposure to something which is causing it. Its always in the back of my mind as ive heard stories of weird lung diseases among other things. Anyways keep in touch and good luck to you all and ill try to join the chats if I can figure out how. Although it seems like a lot of people in here are from the UK so might be hard to talk since in different time zones as im in central US. Good luck keep in touch
Hi Jarhead
Wow 4 months is brilliant, pleased you didn't give in and have smoke, as it's guys like you that give us newbies the inspiration and strength to carry on. Plus imagine if you had lit a fag.... Ewwww the smell and you would def be coughing up so that would make the breathlessness worse. Hmmm I am a bit of a dim one as I thought sob stood for son of a bi*ch! Hmmmm no hope for me huh lol!!!
X
Thanks everyone and yes this all sucks. I always notice the shortness of breath when im just sitting down doing nothing or talking. If im busy working on something it never comes as my mind is elsewhere. Its driving me nuts as it seems when its time to relax I cant cause then the breathing problems. Not sure if I should go to a pulmonologist since every other doctor has tested me including the allergist who said no copd or no asthma. wondering if it would be a waste of my time. I just want to know this is all worth it and at some point itll go away. Always in the back of my mind I was a Marine in the Iraq war and worry that maybe there was some exposure to something which is causing it. Its always in the back of my mind as ive heard stories of weird lung diseases among other things. Anyways keep in touch and good luck to you all and ill try to join the chats if I can figure out how. Although it seems like a lot of people in here are from the UK so might be hard to talk since in different time zones as im in central US. Good luck keep in touch
Hi jarhead, Yep sounds like anxiety to me, I recognize the symptoms, the girls are right a little light exercise and the deap breathing does help.
We have to find a lot of strength to control these feelings, and yes it's bloody hard !!
It will get better, we just have to keep telling our brain this, as the saying goes ' Mind over Body ' 
We are all in it together on here, all feeling or felt like S--t at times.
We will win this battle, keep in touch, You are doing great at 4 months quit.
Thanks everyone and yes this all sucks. I always notice the shortness of breath when im just sitting down doing nothing or talking. If im busy working on something it never comes as my mind is elsewhere. Its driving me nuts as it seems when its time to relax I cant cause then the breathing problems. Not sure if I should go to a pulmonologist since every other doctor has tested me including the allergist who said no copd or no asthma. wondering if it would be a waste of my time. I just want to know this is all worth it and at some point itll go away. Always in the back of my mind I was a Marine in the Iraq war and worry that maybe there was some exposure to something which is causing it. Its always in the back of my mind as ive heard stories of weird lung diseases among other things. Anyways keep in touch and good luck to you all and ill try to join the chats if I can figure out how. Although it seems like a lot of people in here are from the UK so might be hard to talk since in different time zones as im in central US. Good luck keep in touch
Thanks everyone and yes this all sucks. I always notice the shortness of breath when im just sitting down doing nothing or talking. If im busy working on something it never comes as my mind is elsewhere. Its driving me nuts as it seems when its time to relax I cant cause then the breathing problems. Not sure if I should go to a pulmonologist since every other doctor has tested me including the allergist who said no copd or no asthma. wondering if it would be a waste of my time. I just want to know this is all worth it and at some point itll go away. Always in the back of my mind I was a Marine in the Iraq war and worry that maybe there was some exposure to something which is causing it. Its always in the back of my mind as ive heard stories of weird lung diseases among other things. Anyways keep in touch and good luck to you all and ill try to join the chats if I can figure out how. Although it seems like a lot of people in here are from the UK so might be hard to talk since in different time zones as im in central US. Good luck keep in touch.
Jarhead,just try and stay focused,do some deep breathing and if your shortness of breath doesn't improve go back to your doctor's office and say you want to see a Pulmonologist (I guess you have insurance ??!!) it's different here we have the jolly old NHS!! At least if you see a pulmonologist then you'll know if there's a problem or not. You're doing really well my friend so don't despair all will be well.H
Hey jarhead,
Im approaching 5 months and still get SOB and still cough up brown crap!!
You have to remember what you have been putting in your lungs all these years. Your healing, but it's going to take some time, maybe up to a year!
Remember how yellow your fingers were when you smoked? Now imagine all that rubbish on your lungs.
Try and do a little exercise, even a walk. Keeping active will help the healing process.
For anxiety keeping calm and relaxed is really important. Slow down your breathing if you feel anxious. A good way to do this is by placing your hand on your tummy and focus. Watching your hand rise and fall with your breathing.
Also you need to remain positive. Smoking is a killer, have no doubts about that! Just keep going everyday will get better.
Ian
I am over a Year without tobacco, guess what? I am puffy and out of breath, I do have lung probs but have been assured 1/ they were not caused by smoking 2/ they will get better.
I think it is probably just your body adapting to not having old nick.
Give it time.
I cannot even count how many times I've quit. I even quit for 5 months one time and went back. A year ago I tried an e-cig and it changed my husband's life. He quit for good. I secretly smoked when I had the chance for another year. But finally I had enough. I've been 6 weeks without a cigarette and I am using my e-cigs and I can honestly say I am certain I will never go back. With that said, each time I quit I had the exact symptoms you are talking about. SOB, felt like I was inflating, tightness in the chest, etc... Only one doctor made a suggestion that perhaps the cilia in my lungs were trying to come "alive" again. She suggested I try Mucinex and maybe that would help loosen things up. That was several years ago and I can't remember if it helped or not because I always went back to the cigs and it went away. You may want to try Mucinex. I'm having the breathing difficulties starting again. I really think it's a normal reaction of some kind, maybe the body is just trying to regulate the added oxygen you have. And since your medical tests came back ok then it's better to live with some unexplained SOB than to die of lung cancer. You're still young and only smoked ten years please stay the course and know that sooner or later everything will stabilize.
To rule out COPD, you have to either have spirometry or pulmonary function tests done. A chest x ray won't do it, and I don't think a CT will either. Not trying to freak you out any more than you already are, but a lot of people get misdiagnosed because they haven't gotten the right test done. (Asthmatic for 35 years, smoked for 25 years, emphysema for 6 years.)
I smoked for 16 years 1 pack a day, half of the period was Marlboro reds other half was lights. It's been 6 years now after quitting. All good. First 2 month after quitting is when u start feeling short breaths episodes, but that's good because u know ur windpipe is stuffed with all that poison and now it starts to heal its self by producing mucus, that mucus should clean the poison stuck to the windpipe, to be more specific, there are tiny hairs all over the wind pipe called cilia, those cilia when covered with mucus gives u the feeling of short breaths, it shouldn't be long before it starts cleaning its self, but warning to those who take small doses from time to time, u might never heal from it, as you are teaching ur body to adapt to the low dose which in return should always keep ur windpipe filled with mucus and therefore, never feel better. After just 5-6 month my breath was all clear, I wouldn't say normal like non-smokers but atleast never felt like that since I was a little kid. But the good news is it'll always feel better every month. Even the heart palpitations disappeared without intervention the 1st month after quitting.
Hello
Hi all, although this is an old post i created an account solely to comment on this with what worked for me.
Im 18 years old and smoked for 3 years, 6weeks clean, and have been experiancing exactly the same as all of you are describing.
If its the same thing, what you all are experincing is colloquially known as "air hunger" or more formally "Dysnpea". This can be a sign of a serious diseases, however like you all have said it can be from stress/ anxiety among other things. (The probable cause in most of your situations).
The symptoms i experienced were that i often couldnt get a deep breath, and was yawning alot. Spent hours upon hours searching the internet for a cure and eventually stumbled upon "Buteyko breathing".
A little bit complex but a basic google searche will fully educate you on how to get started. The aim of this breathing technique is to actually breathe less, sounds crazy but bear with me.
If you want to do a little test, lay on your side and do small and short breaths, about 2 seconds in and 2 seconds out SOLELY through your nose. Never fully empty your lungs or completely fill them. Do this for 10 minutes and see how you feel! Itll be a little bit unconfortable to start with but try and stick to it, but dont suffocate yourself! If you need that deep breath definitely take it! Dont push too hard!
We are all experiencing a massive increase of oxygen and a massive decrease of carbon dioxide since we quit and our bodies don't know how to deal with it properly. CO2 is used to distribute oxygen around the body, so too much oxygen and constant deep breaths can make it worse. ill leave a link to a short video explaining how too much oxygen/ to little CO2 messes with our bodies! Deep breathing exercies made me feel worse not better! Buteyko breathing is used in the UK for asthma but our GPs fail to mention it to us for other problems due to lack of research.
Ill end on saying this is just my personal experience, im not a doctor and if you have continuing concerns keep up the visits to your GP! It could be serious! Im just sharing what worked for me! Apologies for the essay but just had to share as i know how uncomfortable it can get.
Josh
Hi ya Joshcyprus, a big warm welcome to our lovely quit forum we have here and a big massive well done to you for reaching 6 weeks quit If you could please let me know your quit date, then I can add you to the Wall of Winners and award you with your Winners badge when the time is right
Hmmmm, as for the Buteyko breathing exercise, I personally have never heard of it, but due to a late finish at work and the flippin traffic, I havnt got any time tonight to have a good look at it but I will
Josh, your doing ever so well on your quit journey, soooo you just keep on with it and remember NOPE, Not One Puff Ever Speak soon.
Pete
Hello all you lovely members
If I may ask you have you ever heard of the Buteyko breathing have you tried it did it work for you
I would love to hear your responses please
Thank youuuu
Pete
Hi there Pete, thank you for your nice reply! My last cigarette was on the 23rd July
Its concerning how uncommon Buteyko breathing is :/ A large majority of medical trials are funded and run by pharmaceutical companies, and Buteyko is based purely on breathing techniques, so with no potential profit for these companies there isn't anyone to bother funding trials.
Although this is not an over night fix, but after a few days i began to feel much better, and the breaths iv'e began taking lately i cant actually remember ever having taken before, not in this crisp depth.
There was a BBC 1 documentary on it in 1998 and the results were astounding; asthmatics puffing inhalers multiple times a day cut off them completely or made large reductions in their medicine consumption. But since then, there has been little to no research apart from a small Australian based trial, one of the three countries that now use it for asthmatics alongside the UK and Russia
I have an absolute archive of video links and research if anyone wants them Its become almost a little obsession of mine D:
Like Pete said, is there anyone else that has tried or found success through Buteyko? Would also absolutely love to hear how it went for you!
Josh
Hi Josh/Pete I joined Buteyko last week, I am 69 Years old asthmatic all my life and stopped smoking 10 weeks ago I smoked around 7 cigs a day for the last 14 years, but since quitting really short of breath so decided to try Buteyko, I am finding it quite difficult to change a lifetime way of breathing but can definitely see the science behind it and it may take 6 months or longer to master but find when I consciously practice my breathing is better, the long and the short of it is SHUT YOUR MOUTH breath only thru your nose and breath from your diaphragm, no deep breathing. yawning, coughing etc with your mouth closed (this is interesting to do) just remember mouth is for food not breathing. Do get onto the website because there are breathing exercises you can do. Good luck to you all and I have my fingers crossed and my mouth closed that our breathing will get better
Hi mysenator and welcome to quit support😊
Congrats on your 10 weeks quit, you're doing really well🚭👍🏼 Delighted to hear that the Buteyko breathing is helping you. Thankyou for sharing this with us.
If you let us know your quit date, our lovely admin will sort out a winners badge for ya. Keep practicing and your reward will be better breathing even if it does take time. It will certainly be worth it.
Good luck and NOPE not one puff ever🍀🚭🚭🚭
We will look forward to your updates so please let us know how you get on😊
Thanks Briarwood, quit on 2nd September 2016 and thanks for allowing me to join the group
Hi mysenator welcome, and really well done on 10wks quit👍 thank you for sharing this with us as I know a few members suffer with asthma/breathing difficulties so this could be really useful to them also. Do keep us posted as briarwood says and do keep going with this fab quit. I have awarded you a well deserved winners badge 😄
I'm wondering how you've made out with shortness of breath and how long before it subsided?
Hey I am experiencing the same thing did the sob eventually go away?
Any update on you shortness of breath? I am going through the same thing....what happened, what did you find out?
hey all i might b late. but am facing the same. whenever stressful situations arise i get SOB with anxiety. Its been 3 months quit for me and this SOB is really bothering me. Please suggest some solutions
Hey buddy. You're not alone. I went to the doc as well, chest X-Rays, tests, all good so far, just need to do a COPD and Asthma test next. With that said, as your lungs heal themselves I was told they are hard at work re-creating the protective silia around them. (Hair-like follicles.) Your lungs are essentially adjusting to being able to feel air again and as disgusting as it sounds, the tar and crap was covering the lungs before so you didn't notice the symptoms. I found an herbal supplement that has thousands of positive user reviews on multiple sites and it's helped me quite a bit with symptoms. It's called "Clear Lungs" by Ridgecrest. I get mine on Amazon but many stores carry it as well. Give it a few days and the supplement works. I was taking 2 pills, 3 times per day at first, now I'm down to twice a day. I also invested in a personal hot air steamer. (Do not use VICS vapor with them per my doctor.) You can also just boil some hot water and put a towel around the cup and breathe in and out slowly to ease those times when you're having trouble. In addition, if the symptoms cause you anxiety like it does with me buy some lavender oil (sold at Walgreens) and take a few sniffs from time to time. It helps with my anxiety and in return, my breathing. Sometimes it's amazing how it's all connected. When I'm relaxed during a breathing episode, they tend to go away quicker. Good luck to ya. Keep up the non smoking, this is our minds playing tricks on us. The nicotine and carbon monoxide is far more dangerous than these symptoms. I also found a 30 min. walk to help tremendously. Get's things moving.
For the shortness of breath, try this:
Grab a paper or plastic bag, sit down and breath in and out of it for a few moments.
This INSTANTLY calms me down and reduces this deep/primal urge to try get more air.
Too much oxygen makes us excited, causes stimulation and really high energy levels.
C02 has the opposite affect, relaxes and calms your nervous system while reducing your energy levels. If we hyperventilate, or breath too quickly, we deplete the CO2 in our lungs.
One commenter mentioned "Buteyko breathing". I recommend checking that out, there are a few videos online (YT) which you can follow. Alternatively, there are free Android apps you can use.
Hey jarhead I have this exact same problem. Its really strange. I'm 8 weeks smoke free and I always am breathing heavy now. Usually over nothing. Ill be sitting still and randomly feel like i got the wind knocked out of me. Its actually much worse now than it was when i was smoking. Makes no sense
Hi Ulmo I am 3 months off cigs and am having the same problem, honestly I was breathing better when I smoked . Just like you just sitting and writing this I feel like my breathing is heavy. I don't feel any anxiety from not smoking only when hard to breathe. Went to doctor and everything is ok and can't explain the shortness of breath. I smoked for many years and since I stopped I never had that coughing up brown stuff or anything like some people describe. I think I am going to try the Clear Lungs supplement somebody else mentioned. I am relieved to know others have experienced this same thing, I just want to feel better. Hope you feel better too soon.
How is your shortness of breath
I am 4 months quit and having the same thing. I wish others that have had it....would come back and let us know if it ever goes away....
Hello
I am 2 months quit and have the shortness of breath and excessive amount of mucus in my throat. My chest feels tight sometimes and feels hard to take a deep breaths. My anxiety level is out the roof
I have found that I started with possibly RA two months after quitting smoking so my take on some things are different due to dealing with that and therefore, makes me feel like I am not sure if things that were happening to me were part of that disease. This makes it hard for me to know what someone not suffering with this should experience. I know the anxiety makes it all feel worse...that is for sure!!!! If you can help yourself that way by either having your doctor prescribe something for you (I had xannax) or get him to evaluate your ability to exercise and go that route. Exercise is great for relieving stress and that anxious feeling. I am sure the deeper breathing would also benefit. Just make sure your doctor gives you the all clear so that you have that peace of mind before you start. The throat mucus is still happening to me at 7 months post quit but has gotten so much better. I was a long term heavy smoker so it could be different for someone else. I still believe (for me) it could get even better but will just take some time. For you, I definitely feel it will get better!!!!!
Dolly....I hope and pray you feel better soon. Those earlier days are so much harder then where I am now. Please remember that when the days are tough. You will be so happy you stuck with it when you are many months beyond the quit.
How is your shortness of breath
Hi Hidden....I am still having it. Not sure what is causing it at this point. Could be COPD (which I do have), part of RA/Psoriatic Arthritis, an umbilical hernia that is huge!!! I have so much going on right now, I have no idea what the main culprit is. After my quit, I got better for 2 months ...then things to a turn and I got worse. Worse then when I was smoking! Even though....I am happy to have quit. Shortness of breath is the only issue I have now. When I smoked, I constantly felt like I was breathing under water. That part is gone and I LOVE that. I can't wait to get this hernia repaired and start exercising. I really think that will make a huge difference....to expand my lung capacity. It has worked for me before! Hope your doing better than fantastic!!!
Also Arizona's next post is definitely true as well. I have had so many times during my quit where anxiety made me feel even more like I could not breath. Once I got that under control, things were so much better.
Hello jarhead😊
When I have anxiety I get shortness of breath and I get anxiety a lot. I wonder if that is what is happening to you
I seem to always be taking deep breaths to relax
How long did the shortness of breath last for you
Wow, I’ve been smoke free for a year now. I only decided to quit as I caught the flu and it knocked me pretty hard. After 3months I then started feeling like I needed a puff, wanted to fill my lungs with a hit as I felt like my chest was closing in, felt like I wasn’t getting enough air into my lungs. I would even freak myself out thinking about it... anxiety? Paranoid? I could go a whole week not thinking about it and feeling good then suddenly??? I find working out or lots of menthol gum helps a little. I’ve now been smoke free for a whole year and still going through moments like this.
Jarhead1231 or any of the initial posters still around? Im going through the same thing. Has anyone had their breathing revert to normal? If yes, then how long did it take?
Hi Guys, just came across this forum and i am really worried so want to share as well. I am 35 and have been a smoker for 16 years off & on including smoking pot. I have anxiety issues and i take clonozopam for the same. I have been having these episodes of shortness of breath since a while now, it feels like i cannot get enough air and that i am going to die. I am 106 kgs and have very high cholestrol levels ( almost double).
I gave up smoking & smoking pot around 3 weeks back and i am getting spells of shortness of breath. The other day i was playing cricket and i felt i couldnt breathe, i had to take anti anxiety medicine and get back home, i went to the doctor and after carrying out my blood tests i got to know that my cholestrol levels are double. He told me that the blockage is making me feel this way, i am really scared. I do not know whether this shortness of breath is due to being obese, high cholestrol, quitting smoking. I have been overweight & had high cholestrol for a while now but it never affected my physical activities earlier but all of a sudden it is, i feel out of breath when i talk, when i walk and when i exercise, which never happened before.
Is it due to giving up smoking ? do i have heart or lung issues ? can someone who has faced something similar please help? i am really scared, i am having anti anxiety medicines which help me stay a little calm, i also feel a little tightness on the right side of my chest. Can anyone relate to my symtoms? will i survive, please help me :(
This happened once previous time as well with me around a 7-8 month back, although that time i was still smoking, i felt like i couldnt breathe, i was sweating, i took something sweet to eat and got home somehow, i felt the same that day as well that i am going to die. After that i did not experience anything like that until now when i described how i am feeling, i have already started making dietary changes to reduce cholestrol level and taking medicine as well. My resting heart rate seems to be normal at around 62. What is this problem ? my lungs, giving up smoking ? anxiety problems, i need relief from this shortness of breath, will i ever be ok, please help me someone :(
Hello Worriedvik, welcome to Quit Support, and well done on your decision to quit smoking. What you are describing could well be anxiety/panic attacks.
Have a look at the pinned posts, there you will find lots of useful information and tips to help you in your quit. The pinned posts can be found either to your right or at the bottom of your screen.
We also advise that should the symptoms persist to make an appointment with your doctor.
Can I also suggest that you write a fresh post as post can get missed when responding to other members post.
If you could let us have your quit date we can add you to our database and assign you with a progress badge.
I have been having shortness of breath too having quit smoking 4 months ago suddenly I began feelinging anxious about not being able to breath or having SOB. I noted on here a few people have been having the same thing and looking for answers with the understandable paranoia that it could be serious.
Here's a possibility; sleep apnea . How so you ask? If you're struggling to breath at night and the natural rhythm of your breathing has been impaired because of the apnea when you wake you will feel like you're struggling to get air because you have been all night. Because you're now conscious as in you are awake and your lungs are trying to adjust you experience oxygen starvation still. This can last all day. Remember youve been asleep for 6 hours or so, thats a long time with irregular breathing for it to cast its shadow into the day. Then you go to sleep and the cycle starts again. Add to that the inevitable anxiety that not being able to breath causes.
Im not aying this is the case for everyone
and you may want to get it checked out but it might ease your anxiety and offer you a solution which you hadn't otherwise considerd.
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